Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens

Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens

The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...

Hepatitis

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver.

Cells of the Innate Immune Response

Cells of the Innate Immune Response

The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Hepatitis C virus infection dynamics, treatment, and lipid nanoparticle-mediated infection in humanized liver chimeric mouse models.

Science advances·2026

Same author

Corrigendum to: Autoreactive T cell receptors with shared germline-like α chains in type 1 diabetes.

JCI insight·2026

Same author

Long-term outcomes after nucleos(t)ide analogue cessation in chronic hepatitis B - follow-up from the RETRACT-B cohort.

Journal of hepatology·2026

Same author

Loss to Follow-Up and Visit Nonadherence in an HIV Incidence Cohort in Kisumu, Kenya.

Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)·2025

Same author

A CRISPR-based genome-wide loss-of-function screen defines a role of host metabolism in regulating hepatitis B virus infection.

Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy·2025

Same author

A genome-wide siRNA screen identifies previously unknown proviral and antiviral host factors in HBV infection.

Journal of hepatology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 27, 2026

Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice

Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice

Published on: September 25, 2019

Rapid decrease in hepatitis C viremia by direct acting antivirals improves the natural killer cell response to IFNα.

Elisavet Serti^1,2, Heiyoung Park^1,2, Meghan Keane^1,2

¹Immunology Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

|January 7, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Direct-acting antivirals (daclatasvir and asunaprevir) improved natural killer (NK) cell responses in chronic hepatitis C (HCV) patients. This suggests a strategy for enhancing interferon-based therapies and potentially lowering treatment costs.

Keywords:

HEPATITIS C IMMUNE RESPONSE IMMUNOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY IN HEPATOLOGY

More Related Videos

Measurement of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity and Migration in the Context of Hepatic Tumor Cells

Measurement of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity and Migration in the Context of Hepatic Tumor Cells

Published on: February 22, 2020

Immunofluorescence to Monitor the Cellular Uptake of Human Lactoferrin and its Associated Antiviral Activity Against the Hepatitis C Virus

Immunofluorescence to Monitor the Cellular Uptake of Human Lactoferrin and its Associated Antiviral Activity Against the Hepatitis C Virus

Published on: October 1, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 27, 2026

Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice

Stem Cell-Derived Viral Ag-Specific T Lymphocytes Suppress HBV Replication in Mice

Published on: September 25, 2019

Measurement of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity and Migration in the Context of Hepatic Tumor Cells

Measurement of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity and Migration in the Context of Hepatic Tumor Cells

Published on: February 22, 2020

Immunofluorescence to Monitor the Cellular Uptake of Human Lactoferrin and its Associated Antiviral Activity Against the Hepatitis C Virus

Immunofluorescence to Monitor the Cellular Uptake of Human Lactoferrin and its Associated Antiviral Activity Against the Hepatitis C Virus

Published on: October 1, 2015

Area of Science:

Hepatology
Immunology
Virology

Background:

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is linked to innate immune system activation and altered interferon-responsive natural killer (NK) cell function.
Previous treatment with pegylated interferon (PegIFN)/ribavirin (RBV) often fails in non-responder patients.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if rapid viral load reduction using daclatasvir (DCV) and asunaprevir (ASV) can enhance NK cell response to subsequent pegylated interferon (PegIFN) therapy.
To compare NK cell responses during quadruple (QUAD) therapy versus prior PegIFN/RBV therapy in non-responders.

Main Methods:

Studied 22 HCV non-responders to PegIFN/RBV during QUAD therapy (DCV, ASV, PegIFN, RBV).
Directly compared early NK cell responses in 7 patients using paired samples from PegIFN/RBV and QUAD therapy.
Validated NK cell response to IFNα in vitro stimulation in 9 patients treated with DCV/ASV.

Main Results:

A 24-hour virological response to QUAD therapy correlated with increased STAT1, pSTAT1, and TRAIL expression in NK cells.
This STAT1/pSTAT1/TRAIL induction was significantly greater during QUAD therapy compared to previous PegIFN/RBV therapy.
Successful QUAD therapy and IFN-free DCV/ASV regimens improved NK cell function (degranulation, TRAIL expression) upon in vitro IFNα stimulation.

Conclusions:

Inhibiting HCV replication and reducing innate immune activation can improve NK cell interferon responsiveness.
This approach may justify clinical trials combining short-term direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy with PegIFN/RBV.
Such a strategy could potentially reduce overall treatment costs, especially in low- and middle-income countries.